Our Pirie Family Website

George Mair

George Mair

M, #2944, b. 22 February 1868, d. 15 January 1944

George Mair was born on 22 February 1868 at Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland.1,2 He was the son of James Mair and Catherine Sclater. His family was known by the tee-name of "Shavie". His family was known by the tee-name of "Campbell". George Mair was a fisherman. He was skipper of the Zulu fishing boat 'Topaz' BF 1822. He was listed as head of household's son in the 1891 census at 19 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland. Those recorded in the household were: Jas. Mair Shavie Campbell, head; Katrine Mair Shavie, wife; Geo. Mair Shavie, son; Joseph Mair Shavie, son; Alexr. Mair Shavie, son.3 He was the informant for, and present at, Alexander Mair's death at sea, about 1 mile from Cantick Head Lighthouse, Walls, Orkney, Scotland, on 23 June 1896.4,5,2,6,7 He was the informant for James Mair's death at 404 Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, on 29 May 1898.8,2 He married Jane Slater at Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland, on 20 December 1900.2The Buckie and District Directory for 1925 shows that George Mair lived at 20 Park Street, Portknockie, Banffshire, Scotland.9 George died on 15 January 1944 at Chalmers Hospital, Banff, Banffshire, Scotland, at age 75.2

[S2311] Alexander Mair "Shavie", Register of Deaths in the District of Seafield in the County of Banff, "Alexander Mair "Shavie", Fisherman (Single), died 1896, June Twenty Third about 7h 0m P.M. in little under a mile from Cantick Lighthouse, Pentland Firth, Us. Res. Portknockie, Male, 19 years. Father: James Mair "Campbell", Fisherman, Mother: Catharine Mair M.S. Slater. Cause of death: Drowning by falling overboard when assisting in setting sail of fishing boat "Topaz" B.F. 1822, as cert. by George Mair "Campbell" Brother and Skipper. Informant: George Mair "Campbell" Brother and Skipper (Present). Registered: 1896, June 26th at Manse of Seafield, James McIntyre, Registrar."

[S2310] Alexander Mair "Shavie", Register of Deaths in the District of Walls in the County of Orkney, "See Reg. of Cor. Ents., Vol. 1, P. 26, October 29th 1896. Alexander Mair "Shavie", Fisherman (Single), died 1896, June Twenty third, about a mile from Cantick Head Lighthouse, Walls, Us. Res. Portknockie, Male, 19 years. Father: James Mair "Campbell", Fisherman, Mother: Catherine Hales or Mair (sic). Cause of death: Drowning, Accidentally falling overboard into the sea per the verdict of a jury, Body not Recovered. Informant: Registered on the information of M. L. Howmden?, Procurator Fiscal. Registered: 1896, October 31 at Walls, Alex. F. Groat, Registrar."

[S2388] Disasters at Sea, Aberdeen Weekly Journal, "PORTKNOCKIE FISHERMAN DROWNEDAbout seven o’clock on Tuesday night Alex. Mair, aged 19, was setting the jib of the fishing boat Topaz as she was passing through the Pentland Firth, off Cantick Lighthouse, on her way home to Portknockie, lost his hold, and fell into the water. His brothers, George and Joseph, at the risk of their lives, leapt immediately into the sea, and got quite close to him, but he sank at their side. About ten years ago another brother, William, was drowned near the Skate Hole."